Wendy Russell
She/her. Researcher, evaluator & consultant on children's play and playwork, mostly geography and philosophy. Focus on the politics of space for children. Based in Nottingham, Senior Research Fellow at Uni of Gloucestershire, UK #SpatialJustice
- Reposted by Wendy RussellWorrying to see this, and the power of the reductive narrative that focuses primarily/only on screens as the cause of the "anxious generation"; it permits an avoidance of bigger debates about the decline of spaces for children & young people, the impacts of austerity & inequality, and so much more:
- International colleagues - please share. Call for Papers for “More Than Child’s Play: Global Perspectives on the History of Playgrounds”, Zurich 26-28 Aug. They are looking "beyond the existing West-centric scholarship." Deadline is tight - 15 January. networks.h-net.org/group/announ...
- This episode of the middle years, part of @drguddisingh.bsky.social 3 Ages of Child series is brilliant, looking at bottom up health creation rather than top down illness treatment. Plus it features Glamis #AdventurePlayground. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
- As a taxpayer, I am happy to pay more tax to support public services and welfare. That is a mark of a civic, collective society rather than one based on individual self-interest and the elevation of wealth to a virtue. #Budget2025
- #TypoOfTheDay: Play Ragers @playglos.bsky.social
- Reposted by Wendy RussellOur recent article reflecting on neighbohood play during the first covid-19 lockdown, using Donald Winnicott (and Bonnie Honig and Joanna Kellond) to think about play, space, and care, both in the pandemic and beyond, now has a home in @tibg.bsky.social's December issue. @wendyrussell.bsky.social
- Please sign the petition to save Human Geopgraphy at University of Leicster c.org/MrqhhLBH8J
- Reposted by Wendy RussellHuman Geography at Leicester is facing closure. Staff contracts are to end in June 2026; students are to be relocated to other universities, or taught out by a maximum of two (!) teaching-only staff. Other departments and subjects are facing closure, too. Please join the demo!
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- I'm reading through a collection of #playworkers' documentation of brief snapshot moments of playing & laughing out loud. In amongst the funding & sustainability headaches & other not-so-good aspects of the work, these joyous moments are what it's all about. #nonsense #playforplayssake #pleasure
- Call for Abstracts for 2026 IPA world conference (2-5 Nov in Christchurch). Deadline 17 Feb 2026 NZDT. Theme: Auahatia (Innovating for Play), exploring bold, inclusive & culturally rich ways to create a world where all tamariki have the right to play www.ipachristchurch2026.com/call-for-abs...
- Oh wow, can't wait to read this! I loved the Francis Alys exhibition. Open access too. Now all I need is some time ... uclpress.co.uk/book/playthi...
- Reposted by Wendy RussellPlease do sign up for - and share - this webinar, on Dec 3rd, to hear about some of the amazing work going on nationally and locally to restore children's ability to play out on their doorsteps. @rezinachowdhury.bsky.social @edwardlamb.bsky.social @playingout.bsky.social @aliceferguson.bsky.social
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- Great thread here from @alisonstenning.bsky.social on the case for paying attention to children's capability to play during #Covid19 lockdowns, including a couple of articles we wrote based on our research. So pleased @aliceferguson.bsky.social gave evidence on this to the Covid Inquiry
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- Thank you @bsky.app for the bookmarking option!!
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- This is an inteesting study, thanks. While the authors differentiate 'physical activity' and PE, much of the focus is on PE. There is a lot that can be done looking at how the school supports play during breaks. outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk @opal-cic.bsky.social
- Reposted by Wendy Russell🚨New Research 🚨 Ahead of the release of Wave 30 of the BES Internet Panel, the team has examined Labour's decline since the 2024 GE. Labour's support has splintered into mostly indecision or left-liberal parties, but they've also lost their few right-wing voters. 🧵⬇️ tinyurl.com/3m62exph
- Thanks for this overview, it's useful. I get this is an analysis of *main* policy areas, but there's a lot missing from this contents list that can feed into the *main* issues, particularly in terms of children's and families' lives, health and wellbeing. #SocialInfrastructure #SpatialJustice
- IT'S OUT! @ukandeu.bsky.social brand new survey of the policy challenges confronting the UK, done in partnership with the wonderful @resfoundation.bsky.social ukandeu.ac.uk/reports/poli... 1/???
- Interesting read. But we need to think further upstream from MH services. The decline in children's mental health over the last decade coincides with the decimation of play and youth services. If we're really looking at multiple approaches to prevention, let's fund them
- 📢 The £51bn case for improving children’s mental health 1 in 5 UK children aged 8–16 likely have a probable mental health condition (NHS Digital, 2023). Yet only 36% referred to NHS services are seen within 4 weeks. Thousands wait over 2 years. 1/5 New report: pbe.co.uk/publications...
- "It is no longer viable—or even desirable—to manage by prescribing fixed end‑states...What matters instead is cultivating the conditions under which coherent, desirable futures can emerge from within the system itself". substack.com/inbox/post/1...
- Totally agree with this - creating conditions for safe active travel is a political endeavour and includes challenging the power of the road and car industries, including the myth of EVs role in reaching net zero
- 🚨New Paper Alert: Physical activity has enemies. 🚶♀️ 🌳 To sharpen advocacy, we need to know who our enemies are and how they operate. DOI: lnkd.in/gf8E9fZb 🙏 @jpahjournal.bsky.social and coauthor team @joeyjmurphy.bsky.social @benjaminrigby.bsky.social @grantennis.bsky.social
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- Thank you @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social and @playengland.bsky.social for reintroducing this play sufficiency amendment. This is much more than (important) designated play provision, it's about making neighbourhoods and town centres play friendly bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
- Reposted by Wendy RussellDEEP BREATH: 5 years of meticulously researched game data culminate for us on National Play Day, Weds 6th Aug. 🤯We realised game discovery was broken. 🧪We made a prototype game-finder. 🎯We Kickstartered it into reality. 🥘We cooked with our backers. 🚀We launch Ludocene.com into the world on 6th Aug.
- I'm looking forward to reading this, whay a treat - an open access too! Thank you to all involved
- Thoughtful review of children’s perceptions on play, discussing results from a lit review with them & also researching with them on their own perceptions. Children "hesitated to pin down characteristics of play" seeing it as fluid. Lovely stuff link.springer.com/article/10.1...
- Well done @playengland.bsky.social on getting this #APPGonPlay up and running! Looking forward to hearing more. www.playengland.org.uk/newsblog/app...
- New paper from Mike Barclay, Ben Tawil and me on a Relational Capability Approach to playing and being well. Our proposed framework rests on social and spatial justice for children. Part of a SI on papers from IPA Glasgow conference. First 50 copies free from www.tandfonline.com/eprint/SVBVD...
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- New article with Pip from @playglos.bsky.social exploring how the mappings that were part of the evaluation of the #Play2Nurture project have helped generate the beginnings of a minor spatial and relational theory of therapeutic playwork. 1st 50 copies free www.tandfonline.com/eprint/CIFYY...
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- I've squirreled this away for later reading and reference: The Anti-Autocracy Handbook - A Scholar's Guide to Democratic Backsliding. Thank you to those who have put this together
- Reposted by Wendy Russell🔊 Please share! Vacancy: Research Associate - behavioural research and public health Work within DECIPHer and the ESRC-funded leadership hub @behaviourresuk.bsky.social. Closing date: Thursday, 19 June 2025 More details and apply here 👉 bit.ly/43pG0hh
- Great article here from Harriet Saddington of the Developer magazine on #PlaySufficiency, play as a matter of #SpatialJustice for children, and how we need an English #PlayStrategy www.thedeveloper.live/opinion/chil...
- Today, on #InternationalDayofPlay, the #RaisingTheNationPlayCommission releases its excellent final report #EverythingToPlayFor, calling for a National Play Strategy for England, including a Play Sufficiency Duty. cfyl.org.uk/report/Every...
- I really enjoyed writing this paper with @alisonstenning.bsky.social using the work of D.W.Winnicott. Hope you enjoy reading it!
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- Reposted by Wendy RussellFinally my essay on a 5E approach to mental distress in adversity is published! It is open access at doi.org/10.1177/1363...
- This NAO report shows how local planning authorities lack resources and skills to effectively raise funds for social infrastructure through S106 and CIL from large developers who do invest resources to avoid these levies. #SpatialJustice www.nao.org.uk/reports/impr...
- Reposted by Wendy RussellStudy on London 20 mph limits shows: - collisions ⬇️ 35% - casualties ⬇️ 36% - fatal/serious injuries ⬇️ 34% - child casualties ⬇️ 46% - child deaths ⬇️ 75% - walkers, cyclists, motorcyclists killed/seriously injured ⬇️ 28% etsc.eu/20mph-limits...
- Huge well done to @playengland.bsky.social @eugeneminogue.bsky.social & @tomhayesmp.bsky.social for getting an English Play Sufficiency Duty to this point. Please ask your MP to support this amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill www.playengland.org.uk/newsblog/big...
- Reposted by Wendy RussellPlease sign and share this petition, calling on Newcastle University’s Executive Board to halt the threat of ill-considered and unnecessary redundances that are imperilling careers and the future of our institution. www.change.org/p/end-unnece...
- You can now watch all four webinars from our series #ExploringPlaySufficiency here - an introduction, then 3 webinars looking at #PlaySufficiency at national, local and neighbourhood levels. Curated by me with Ludicology, with support from @playwales.bsky.social www.youtube.com/@ExploringPl...
- Where do you start?
- Play England's new strategy recognises all the ways children play & that it's not them that need fixing but the systems round them. bit.ly/43AoFlFC Congrats @eugeneminogue.bsky.social @profhelendodd.bsky.social @naomilott.bsky.social Paul Brindley @mic-martin.bsky.social @geekdadgamer.bsky.social
- Reposted by Wendy RussellNEW: Open letter by me & @alasianuti.bsky.social signed by 112 UK-based political academics & writers Starmer's anti-immigrant policies are wrong & won't work www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/starmer
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- #Academics in England! Please sign & share! A group of us across academic disciplines have drafted a letter in support of the #PlayCommission's call for an English national #PlayStrategy. It will be submitted alongside others from people in built environment, health, education etc. bit.ly/4dalQed
- Just going through a Teams transcript from a meeting. Loving how "task and finish group" becomes "task unfinished group". #AIFails #YouveGotToLaugh
- Sorry, @zackpolanski.bsky.social - if you run on a populism ticket, you've lost me. Please don't use that word www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
